Federally chartered independent system operators (ISOs) now control the power grids and wholesale markets for more than half the retail power customers in the U.S. In such areas, electric bills may soon (or already) include a charge to pay for keeping installed generating capac-ity (ICAP) available regardless of how much electricity it actually produces. While that ICAP charge is controversial (some regions avoid or have fought against it), power customers having backup generators may also be able to make money from it.
What is the definition of a great building? One of the keys to success for a great building project is achieving the intended performance (design intent) of the building systems at the end of the project. However, owners don't usually undertake the effort and expense of a capital project in order to simply say that the project was great. Owners want buildings that stay great and meet the needs of the people and programs for which the buildings were designed and constructed.
Microprocessor-based systems greatly increased the power and flexibility of BMS while lowering the cost of sophisticated control. A similar evolu-tion in electrical metering and protection devices has increased the amount of power system information available to building operators.
Engineered Systems' next big venture is their first ever Building Automation Conference in Baltimore, March 8th and 9th. For the last sev-eral years, there has been a growing interest in printed articles, supplements, and columns like this one about building automation.
Think twice before jumping on that next "upgrade."
Hey, don't get me wrong. I am fully in favor of energy efficiency. But oversimplifying how savings are projected could result in some major disappointments.
By the time you read this, the new Engineered Systems website will be up and running. Conveniently, you can find it at the same old address: www.esmagazine.com. All BNP Media publications have been under-going a massive website renovation since last year, and now our turn to launch has come around.